Method and apparatus for multi-functional capillary-tube interface unit for evaporation, humidification, heat exchange, pressure or thrust generation, beam diffraction or collimation using multi-phase fluid

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for heat exchange with a volatile fluid in a parallel-channel capillary network traversing a solid receiver module manifests a multi-functional miniature device capable of performing as an evaporator, a condenser, a humidifier, a single-stream heat exchanger, a pressure generator, a thrust motor, a Fraunhofer diffraction device, or a collimation device. Heat is exchanged at a dedicated interface on the body by thermal contact or radiative fluence, and indirectly with the working fluid. Application-specific process control is manifested by applied heat rate, control of fluid saturation levels and vapor partial pressure at the capillary ends, and arrangement of flow network connections. The system operates in steady-state or transient modes, depending on the adapted functional mode and duty cycle. Specific materials and working fluids tolerate transient system performance levels of apparent heat rates exceeding 10 [MW/m 3 ] and local fluid pressures exceeding 1 [GPa].

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/205,101 filed Jan. 15, 2009, by the present inventor, and entitled “Method And Apparatus For Multi-Functional Capillary-Tube Interface Unit For Evaporation, Humidification, Heat Exchange, Pressure Or Thrust Generation, Beam Diffraction Or Collimation Using Multi-Phase Fluid,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention allows the local heating (or cooling) of a volatile fluid while resident in a capillary tube network consisting of parallel channels penetrating a solid receiver module (i.e., web). The web provides the necessary mechanical structural integrity, and contributes to heat transfer by conductive mode from a heated interface to points throughout the body. Heat is delivered to the heating interface by direct thermal contact, indirect thermal contact, or a radiative fluence. The system can operate in steady-state, pulsed-transient, or other transient modes, depending on a desired or optimized functional adaptation and the requisite duty cycle. Different liquid saturation levels and vapor partial pressure are induced or maintained at the axial ends of the capillary conduits, also depending on a desired or optimized function. Plumbing and flow network connections throughout the web also vary when optimized for a function or performance level. The present invention differs from a conventional heat pipe in that there is no dedicated condenser section of the apparatus (e.g., a condenser disposed at an axial end of a capillary tube), and the working fluid is also the local heat sink (or heat supply when operated as a condenser or heat exchanger).

Functional performance modes are controlled by applied heat rate, control of fluid saturation levels and vapor partial pressure at the axial ends of the capillaries, and the plumbing and flow network connections and dimensions throughout the web. Equivalent apparent volumetric heat rates may vary from zero to high values dictated by material performance limits in the range of 10 [MW/m³] with transient operation. Local saturation values may vary from gas-only (i.e., value of 0), to values of 1 corresponding to liquid-only. Local vapor partial pressures may vary up to and exceed the local total instantaneous gas pressures. Depending on the performance mode, materials selections and the choice of working fluid, local total gas pressures may vary to 1 Giga-Pascal [GPa]. Optional plumbing configuration variations take the form of the introduction of plugs at a common axial end of the capillary channels, the use of plenum enclosures or nozzle assemblies at the axial ends of the capillary tubes, and the operation or absence of pressure micro-ports at specific axial locations on the capillary channels.

Variations of operational parameters and configuration for the miniature device allow functional performance in any of eight application modes. These eight application modes are (1) Fluid Evaporator, (2) Fluid Condenser, (3) Gas Phase Humidifier with Working Fluid Vaporization, (4) Single-Stream Heat Exchanger with the Working Fluid, (5) Pressure Generator, (6) Thrust Motor, (7) a Doppler-Shift-Sensitive Fraunhofer Diffraction Device, or (8) a Doppler-Shift-Sensitive Collimation Device.

A primary advantage of the design concept for the present invention is the absence of any internal mechanical moving parts. Control of the adapted function and the performance level is governed by system heat rate, boundary fluid saturation level, boundary vapor partial pressure, and the capillary network configuration. An additional advantage is that the present invention exploits small-scale fluid phenomena for system pressure regulation. The combination of the use of a volatile liquid and capillary processes allows the generation and regulation of mechanical pressure without the introduction of conventional process equipment (e.g., pumps). The combination of system simplifications evident from the simple configuration, the absence of moving mechanical parts, and the reduced process equipment requirements provide great flexibility in scaling the system below the micro-scale. There are inherent upper bounds to scaling the system up to increasingly larger size associated with loss of capillary phenomena in channels of sufficiently large radii, with the possibility of extensive liquid dryout for heating, and with unacceptable overall system pressure or temperature differences. The coupling of multiple units of the receiver modules in an array allows flexibility of application while forming a fine-tolerance, low-resistance common interface with any heat transfer surface. Finally, control of the heating rate, fluid and materials properties, and choice of capillary configuration allow transitions from quasi-isobaric to quasi-isochoric vaporization (or condensation) processes that are optimal to a specific application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein the methods and apparatus of the present invention that uses heat exchange with a volatile fluid in a capillary network to regulate fluid pressure and saturation level at specific locations throughout a miniature device. The volatile fluid may exist as one component in a multi-component fluid mixture (e.g., a mixture of volatile and carrier fluids). Variations of operational parameters, fluids and materials selections, and configuration for the miniature device allow functional performance in any of eight application modes. These eight application modes are (1) Fluid Evaporator, (2) Fluid Condenser, (3) Gas Phase Humidifier with Working Fluid Vaporization, (4) Single-Stream Heat Exchanger with the Working Fluid, (5) Pressure Generator, (6) Thrust Motor, (7) a Doppler-Shift-Sensitive Fraunhofer Diffraction Device, or (8) a Doppler-Shift-Sensitive Collimation Device.

The capillary tube network consists of channels with parallel flow axes penetrating a solid receiver module that provides mechanical structural integrity. The solid receiver module also contributes to heat transfer by conductive mode from a heat transfer interface on the receiver body to points throughout the body. Heat from an external heat source is delivered to the heating interface by any of a variety of conductive, convective or radiative modes. Radiative heat transfer modes may additionally induce volumetric heating effects, depending on the radiation mean free path for the specific configuration and operating conditions of the application. From the receiver body, heat is transferred to fluid at the solid-fluid interfaces along the capillary channels. The working fluid or fluid components' mixture occupies the channels, and any plena disposed at the axial ends of the capillary channels. If the receiver body heat transfer interface receives the higher-temperature heat, then heat is expelled to the fluid. If the fluid receives the higher-temperature heat, then heat is expelled at the receiver body heat transfer interface.

Different liquid saturation levels, total and vapor partial pressures are induced or maintained in the apparatus, depending on a desired or optimized functional adaptation. Plumbing and flow network connections throughout the receiver body vary when optimized for a function or performance level. Plumbing may include dedicated micro-ports. The micro-ports are conduits designed to tap fluid at specified locations along the capillary channel. Configuration options, fluid properties control, and regulation of the heating or cooling rate for the system, allow full control of system function and performance level. The system can operate in steady-state, pulsed-transient, or other transient modes, depending on a desired or optimized functional adaptation and the requisite duty cycle.

Performance levels admit transient states, and equivalent apparent volumetric heat rates may vary from zero to high values determined by material limits in the range of 10 [MW/m³]. Peak allowable saturation, temperature and pressure ranges vary according to application. Operational bounds presented here correspond to extreme materials and fluid performance limits among all application modes. Saturation values may be non-uniform throughout the device and may vary between values of 0 and 1. Spatially non-uniform temperatures may vary from virtual-absolute-zero to 2400 Kelvin. Spatially non-uniform pressures may vary from partial vacuum to more than 1 Giga-Pascal.

The fluids and structural materials vary with the application modes, adapted configurations, and performance levels. Generally, the combination of fluid and capillary wall (structural) material determines the magnitude of the capillary fluid-wicking effect on which system operation partially relies. The capillary wicking effect ensures that fluid in the pertinent phase is pumped to the vicinity of the heat transfer interface. Therefore, specific fluid and structural materials pairings affect nominal performance levels. Working fluid components may include, but are not limited to, monatomic gas, polyatomic gas, water, organic fluids, polymers, paraffins, fluidized salts, and fluidized metals. Structural materials may include, but are not limited to, metal oxides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, semiconductors, other ceramics, metals, resins, fiber reinforced resins, polymers, organic compounds and cellulosic materials.

The system geometry and dimensions are adapted to the specific application and vary with the functional use. The volume displaced by the receiver module geometry is an extruded parallelepiped in the preferred embodiment, with greatest dimension along the capillary channel axis. The two mutually orthogonal dimensions that are transverse to the capillary channel axis are variable, and partially determined by structural and thermal management considerations. Maximum capillary channel diameter does not exceed 1 centimeter. There are no inherent restrictions on the axial length of the capillary channel, though structural, liquid dryout, total pressure differential, and total temperature differential considerations prefer that this dimension be less than 1 meter. The total receiver body length exceeds the capillary channel length by a dimension equivalent to the sum of the plena depths and the plena wall thicknesses. In adaptations with active micro-ports, the micro-port location(s) along the capillary channel axis are variable and are specified to satisfy system performance metrics. Active micro-port diameters are also specified to satisfy system performance metrics, and are generally smaller than the associated capillary channel diameter by an approximate order-of-magnitude. The active micro-port conduit axis is orthogonal to the axis of the capillary channel that it intersects.

Heat exchanger and heat pump devices requiring phase change of the volatile working fluid are claimed by Basiulis, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,708 for application Ser. No. 07/192,267 filed May 10, 1988; by Ogushi et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,447 for application Ser. No. 07/740,069 filed Aug. 5, 1991; and by Baker, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,313 for application Ser. No. 08/201,733 filed Feb. 25, 1994. All of the apparatus for these claims involve closed fluid loops, in contrast to the open fluid system of the present invention. Most of the apparatus for these claims incorporate an internal heating device, in contrast to the requirement of an external source of heat for the present invention. The device claimed by Basiulis (U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,708) uses an osmotic membrane, not a capillary flow process, to allow selective transport of evaporation fluid to the condenser section. The devices claimed by Ogushi (U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,447) and Baker (U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,313) use porous wick materials to draw liquid into the vicinity of the heated sections of evaporation chambers by capillary forces. In comparison, the present invention lacks a dedicated evaporation chamber, manifesting the fluid phase changes in the apparent wick material.

Fluid evaporator devices are claimed by Pollock et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,330 for application Ser. No. 05/445,421 filed Feb. 25, 1974; Gijsbers et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,977,364 for application Ser. No. 05/446,147 filed Feb. 27, 1974; Nishino et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,458 for application Ser. No. 06/387,686 filed Jun. 11, 1982; and Young et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,864 for application Ser. No. 10/079,744 filed Feb. 19, 2002. All of the apparatus for these claims incorporate an internal or integral heating device, in contrast to the requirement of an external source of heat for the present invention. In contrast to the configuration of the present invention, the devices claimed by both Gijsbers et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,977,364) and Nishino et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,458) place a wicking material within a vertical tube and adjacent heating element in annular arrangement, so that the direction of heat exchange is perpendicular to the direction of bulk fluid flow. The devices claimed by Pollock et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,330) and Young et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,864) consist of thin, layered porous plates, with the direction for bulk fluid flow and heat transfer perpendicular to the plate faces and the porosity created by use of granular materials. The receiver of the present invention does not require a layered construction nor granular materials to manifest pore space for capillary fluid flow.

Evaporative humidifier devices are claimed by Tanaka for indoor use, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,176 for application Ser. No. 05/955,954 filed Oct. 30, 1978; and Wall for the delivery of therapeutic substances, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,542 for application Ser. No. 05/968,829 filed Dec. 12, 1978. Both of the apparatus for these claims incorporate an internal or integral heating device, in contrast to the requirement of an external source of heat for the present invention. In contrast to the configuration of the present invention, both devices place a wicking material and heating element in a concentric annular arrangement with respect to a vertical fluid flow passage, so that the direction of heat exchange is perpendicular to the direction of evaporative fluid flow. Nishino et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,302 for application Ser. No. 06/269,021 filed Sep. 26, 1980, also claim an evaporative humidifier device. This device also incorporates an internal or integral heating device in the vaporization chamber, and employs liquid wicking materials to draw fluid by capillary forces to the vaporization chamber from an adjacent liquid supply chamber. Nishino et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,302) use fibrous materials for the liquid wicking structure in the preferred embodiments, in comparison to the capillary channels specified for the present invention. Dinauer et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,786 for application Ser. No. 07/954,121 filed Sep. 30, 1992, claim an evaporative humidifier with a channel array connecting two manifolds that respectively contain a volatile liquid and a carrier gas that is to be humidified. The thermodynamic conditions at the manifolds are maintained to achieve process and rate control. In contrast to the impermeable channel walls of the present invention, the channels are tubes with porous walls that are permeable to both gas and liquid. Additionally, Dinauer et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,786) do not specify the manifestation of fluid capillary forces in the tubes for device operation.

Chun et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,851 for application Ser. No. 07/028,450 filed Mar. 20, 1987, claim a fluid pump capable of generating gas or liquid pressure. A manifestation of the pump device imposes a temperature gradient along two dissimilar fluids in an annular flow configuration. The surface tension gradient generated between the fluids drives a fluid flow. Chun et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,851) use no porous or liquid wicking component in the device. Young et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,864 for application Ser. No. 10/079,744 filed Feb. 19, 2002 and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,570 for application Ser. No. 10/691,067 filed Oct. 21, 2003, claim evaporative pressure generators and fluid pumps formed from thin, porous layers arranged as stacked plates or concentric annular sections. The direction for bulk fluid flow and heat transfer is perpendicular to the faces of the layers. Layer thickness is limited to 1 centimeter or less. The receiver of the present invention does not require a layered construction, and can accommodate a greater dimension in the direction of heat and fluid flow. The devices claimed by Young et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,864 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,570) rely on capillary forces to draw liquid into a vaporizer layer that has an integral or internal heating element or process, in contrast to the specification of an external heat source for the present invention.

Collimator designs for ionizing radiation vary among concepts integrating fluid-bearing members, apertures or poly-channels. Piret et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,836 for application Ser. No. 05/458,445 filed Apr. 5, 1974; Froelich et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,401 for application Ser. No. 05/494,431 filed Aug. 2, 1974; and Persyk, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,419 for application Ser. No. 06/316,415 filed Oct. 29, 1981 all claim devices that adapt an absorbing fluid within an attenuating or absorbing chamber. However, none of these include the poly-capillary collimation channels of the present invention. Alternately, multi-aperture, channel and multi-channel collimation devices are claimed by York et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,794 for application Ser. No. 05/536,957 filed Dec. 23, 1974; Hatton et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,839 for application Ser. No. 05/827,947 filed Aug. 26, 1977; Dance et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,999 for application Ser. No. 06/483,847 filed Apr. 13, 1983; Lewis et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,737 for application Ser. No. 07/492,401 filed Mar. 7, 1990; Guru et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,615 for application Ser. No. 09/289,819 filed Apr. 12, 1999 and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,377,661 for application Ser. No. 09/704,634 filed Nov. 3, 2000; Foster et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,624,431 for application Ser. No. 09/621,404 filed Jul. 21, 2000; Pau et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 7,042,982 for application Ser. No. 10/716,697 filed Nov. 19, 2003; and Vija, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,470,906 for application Ser. No. 11/524,801 filed Sep. 21, 2006. None of the devices in this group of claims incorporate an attenuating or absorbing fluid in the transmission apertures or channels. Knollenberg, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,162 for application Ser. No. 05/680,011 filed Apr. 26, 1976, introduces a gas to the interstices of a poly-channel collimator device for the purpose of aligning passageways and reducing the void volume fraction; not to attenuate or absorb the incident beam. Linders et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,426 for application Ser. No. 09/166,432 filed Oct. 5, 1998, present a poly-capillary collimator device that introduces mercury or gallium fluid to the transmission passages. Fluid imbibition to capillaries occurs by capillary suction, and drainage occurs by imposition of an electric field or by air sparge. Device operation is isothermal. The present invention controls fluid inventory, ingress and egress by manifestation of local temperature, temperature gradient, and thermodynamic state at the plena. Short et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,203 for application Ser. No. 10/308,704 filed Dec. 2, 2002, introduce a multi-chamber collimator device with a lead-colloid bearing fluid occupying the transmission passages. The chambers are non-capillary, in contrast to the channels of the present invention. Short et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,203) use supply line pressure and valves to control chamber fluid inventory, ingress and egress.

Sharnoff, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,759 for application Ser. No. 07/189,525 filed May 3, 1988, claims a diffraction device suitable for use as a condensing optic for an x-ray beam. The device consists of multiple stages of blanking screens that are opaque to the radiation and are disposed in the beam path. Diffraction apertures are disposed on the screens. The device does not integrate a fluid-bearing capillary passage component. Wilkins, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,267 for application Ser. No. 07/332,846 filed Mar. 20, 1989, claims a condensing optic device for x-ray and neutron beams. The device includes a collimator stage consisting of a poly-capillary subsystem disposed in the beam line. The finishing optic is a crystal that produces Bragg diffraction to focus and condense the beam. The device does not integrate fluid-bearing capillary passages, nor does it integrate the collimating and focusing capabilities in a single stage as for the present invention. Wong et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,097 for application Ser. No. 11/250,752 filed Oct. 14, 2005, claim a fluid valve that can be utilized as a microfluidic lens. Multiple fluids are introduced into a microchannel to form fluid interfaces. The interface positions and curvatures within the channel are controlled to manifest specific focal properties. Wong et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,097) use electroosmotic phenomena to control interface locations and geometries, as compared to the thermocapillary phenomena of the present invention. Additionally, Wong et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,097) imply the specification of non-ionizing radiation for use of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of one embodiment of the apparatus for the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein the methods and apparatus of the present invention that uses heat exchange with a volatile fluid in a capillary network to regulate fluid pressure and saturation level at specific locations throughout a miniature device. The volatile fluid may exist as one component in a multi-component fluid mixture. Variations of operational parameters and configuration for the miniature device allow-functional performance in any of eight application modes. These eight application modes are (1) Fluid Evaporator, (2) Fluid Condenser, (3) Gas Phase Humidifier with Working Fluid Vaporization, (4) Single-Stream Heat Exchanger with the Working Fluid, (5) Pressure Generator, (6) Thrust Motor, (7) a Doppler-Shift-Sensitive Fraunhofer Diffraction Device, or (8) a Doppler-Shift-Sensitive Collimation Device.

The capillary tube network consists of channels with parallel axes that penetrate a solid receiver module 10 (i.e., web) of FIG. 1. The capillary channel walls may feature roughness or other small-scale boundary features to enhance local heat transfer rates. The web provides the necessary mechanical structural integrity, and contributes to heat transfer by conductive mode from a heat transfer interface on the receiver body to points throughout the body. Heat is delivered to the heating interface by direct thermal contact, indirect thermal contact, a radiative fluence, or some combination of these. A radiative mode may additionally manifest volumetric heating of the receiver module and fluid. Thereupon, heat is transferred to fluid at the solid-fluid interfaces along the capillary channels 20 of FIG. 1. The working fluid or fluid components' mixture occupies the channels 20 and any applicable plena 60,70 of FIG. 1. If the receiver body heat transfer interface 30 receives the higher-temperature heat, then heat is expelled to the fluid in an evaporator, humidifier, heat exchanger, thrust motor, or pressure generator mode. If the fluid receives the higher-temperature heat, then heat is expelled at the receiver body heat transfer interface 30 in a condenser or heat exchanger mode. The device may process heat in either heat expulsion configuration when it functions as a Fraunhofer diffraction device or collimator for ionizing electro-magnetic or particle beams of any effective DeBroglie wavelength.

Different liquid saturation levels, total and vapor partial pressures are induced or maintained at the axial ends of the capillary conduits 40,50 abutting the plena 60,70, depending on a desired or optimized functional adaptation. Means for actively controlling saturation, total pressure and vapor pressure are disposed at the plena 60,70, but these means are neither depicted in FIG. 1 nor are they within the scope of the claims for the present invention. Plumbing and flow network connections throughout the web also vary when optimized for a function or performance level. These multiple control features, combined with regulation of the heating or cooling rate for the system, allow full control of system function, configuration and performance level. The system can operate in steady-state, pulsed-transient, or other transient modes, depending on a desired or optimized functional adaptation and the requisite duty cycle.

The geometric configuration of the present invention varies among the functional adaptations. In the heat exchanger mode, high temperature heat is delivered to the heat transfer interface 30. Fluid 90 of any saturation is driven from the heat transfer plenum 60 into the capillaries 20. Fluid is driven past the capillary end 50 into the reservoir plenum 70, whereupon it exits the device. In a heat exchange mode where lower temperature heat is extracted at the heat transfer interface 30, relatively higher temperature fluid 90 is driven from the reservoir plenum 70 into the capillary tubes 20 and past the capillary ends 40 into the heat transfer plenum 60. Fluid 90 then exits the device. In either heat exchanger variant, the micro-ports 80 are not present in the heat exchange embodiment, or are plugged (e.g., by weldment), or are capped to prevent fluid 90 egress.

The micro-ports 80 are also not present in the fluid evaporator embodiment, or are plugged (e.g., by weldment), or are capped to prevent fluid 90 egress in reference to FIG. 1. Here, fluid of relatively high saturation level is drawn from the reservoir plenum 70, into the capillaries 20, and past capillary ends 40. The saturation evolves along the fluid path so that it is lower (wet saturated vapor) or zero (pure saturated or superheated vapor) at the time it enters the heat transfer plenum 60. Additionally, the process can be controlled to produce a fluid pressure drop as it passes from the capillary 20 into the heat transfer plenum 60, thereby allowing flashing and superheat of fluid that emerges as a phase mixture. Higher temperature heat is coupled to the heat transfer interface 30.

Functional adaptation of the device as a condenser includes configuration and attributes identical to those for use as an evaporator. However, fluid of low saturation and pressure greater than or equivalent to the breakthrough pressure for the local fluid thermodynamic state (for a liquid-wet capillary wall) is introduced at the reservoir plenum, 70. Furthermore, heat is extracted at the heat transfer interface, 30, at a rate sufficient to increase the saturation level of the fluid stream upon arrival at the heat transfer plenum, 60.

The operational configuration of the present invention for functional adaptation as a humidifier is identical to that for use as a fluid evaporator, with one exception. The micro-ports 80 of FIG. 1 need not be disabled, but may be located at axial locations along the capillaries 20 to tap fluid 90 with specified fluid saturation or vapor-fraction levels. The operational configuration of the present invention for functional adaptation as a pressure generator is identical to that for use as a humidifier, with two exceptions. First, the micro-ports 80 of FIG. 1 are located at axial locations along the capillaries 20 to tap fluid 90 with specified fluid pressure attributes. Second, the capillary ends 50 abutting the reservoir plenum 70 may be capped, plugged (e.g., by weldment), or formed such that the capillary channels 20 do not penetrate continuously through the receiver body 10 into the reservoir plenum 70.

The configuration of the present invention for functional adaptation as a thrust motor minimizes the relative volume of the reservoir plenum 70 shown in FIG. 1. The micro-ports 80 are not present in the thrust motor embodiment, or are plugged (e.g., by weldment), or are capped to prevent fluid 90 egress. Volatile fluid 90 of high saturation initially occupies the capillary channels 20 and serves as propellant. High temperature heat applied at the heat transfer interface increases fluid pressure and reduces saturation in the vicinity of the capillary ends 40. The plenum 60 enclosure face opposing the capillary end exit plane 40 bears a penetration to form a fluid nozzle. Pressurized fluid emerging from the capillary ends 40 into the heat transfer plenum 60 is vectored through this nozzle penetration to produce a fluid jet and thrust. The fluid 90 store in the capillary channels 20 is steadily reduced during thrust motor operation such that motor operation has an operational duration limit or duty cycle proportional to the capillary fluid inventory.

The operational configuration of the present invention for functional adaptation as a Fraunhofer diffraction device or a collimation device can be identical to any of those specified for functional adaptations as a heat exchanger, fluid evaporator, fluid condenser, humidifier, or thruster. The receiver module 10 is placed in the path of a beam of ionizing radiation, at some position between a radiation source and any of a target, focal point or focal plane, or beam dump. The axis of the beam of ionizing radiation is aligned (collinear), or creates a small grazing-angle or rocking-angle, with the capillary 20 axes. The incident beam spot (i.e., beam cross section) intersects both the receiver 10 web material and capillary 20 volumes. The receiver web 10 mass may be an absorber material, or have attenuation characteristics that depart to some degree from the attenuation characteristics of the fluid 90. Similarly, the fluid 90 may absorb or be opaque to the incident radiation The radiation beam emerging from the axial end of the receiver 10 opposite the radiation beam source registers the regions of web and fluid volume with variable local beam intensity in a plane perpendicular to the direction of radiation streaming. Local transmission beam intensity in this perpendicular plane is inversely proportional to the composite attenuation experienced by a beamlet (i.e., a sub-region of the total radiation beam over a cross section perpendicular to the direction of streaming) upon a particular path through the diffraction or collimation device. Where either the receiver 10 web material or fluid 90 is highly absorbing of the type of radiation applied, with the remaining material being opaque to that radiation, efficient beam collimation is achieved by adjustment of the capillary 20 axis length in proportion to the mean channel diameter.

Beamlet attenuation in the capillary 20 volumes may vary axially, and is determined by the fluid pressure, saturation and mass density. The system temperatures and axial temperature gradients within the receiver 10 module and fluid 90 may furthermore be controlled in relation to the radiation beam source spectrum to exploit absorption and scatter reaction resonances, thereby modifying the emergent beam spectra by the manifestation of Doppler effects in both collimation and diffraction applications. Finally, control of system axial temperature gradients allows control of the axial fluid 90 saturation profiles in the capillaries 20. This subsequently allows the axial control of the local fluid 90 density, and of the axial locations where menisci reside. The regulation of axial distributions of fluid 90 mass density and saturation then manifests a fluid lens with adjustable optical characteristics. With the capillary 20 dimensions and aspect ratios specified to produce the intended diffraction pattern for the type of radiation applied, the capillary 20 fluid store 90 acts as an integral lens for a Fraunhofer diffraction device.

The apparatus of the current invention is adapted and optimized for operation within a desired range from a larger suite of possible conditions. Fluid saturation, temperature and pressure ranges for the device vary with the application, the adapted configuration, the heating (cooling) rate, and the selection for the materials and fluids combination. All operation configurations admit transient states, and equivalent apparent volumetric heat rates may vary from zero to high values determined by material performance limits in the range of 10 [MW/m³]. Therefore, general allowable saturation, temperature and pressure ranges are described here according to application, and are presented as operational bounds contingent upon (occasionally instantaneous) extreme materials and fluid performance limits. For heat exchanger applications, saturation values may be non-uniform throughout the device and may vary between values of 0 and 1. Spatially non-uniform temperatures may vary from near-absolute-zero to 2200 Kelvin. Spatially non-uniform pressures may vary from partial vacuum to 500 Mega-Pascal. For evaporator and condenser applications, saturation values vary throughout the device between minima of 0 and maxima of 1. Spatially non-uniform temperatures may vary from near-absolute-zero to 2400 Kelvin, and tend to be more nearly uniform in the local regions of evaporation and condensation. Spatially non-uniform pressures may vary from partial vacuum to 1 Giga-Pascal. For humidifier applications, saturation values throughout the device approach a minimum of 0, and may locally vary, to a maximum of 1. Spatially non-uniform temperatures may vary from near-absolute-zero to 1600 Kelvin, and tend to vary less in the local regions of evaporation and condensation. Spatially non-uniform pressures may vary from partial vacuum to 1 Giga-Pascal. Operating conditions for the pressure generator allow spatially non-uniform saturation values on the range 0 to 1, temperatures from near-absolute zero to 2400 Kelvin, and pressures varying from partial vacuum to 1 Giga-Pascal. Operating conditions for the thrust motor allow spatially non-uniform saturation values on the range 0 to 1, temperatures ranging up to 2600 Kelvin, and stagnation pressures below 10 Giga-Pascal. Operating conditions for diffraction and collimator applications admit the ranges specified for the other adaptations listed previously.

The fluids 90 and receiver body 10 materials also vary with the application and adapted configuration. Materials and fluids selections enable system performance at the peak operational pressures and temperatures. Therefore, the claims for the present invention are not limited to any specific materials or fluids. Generally, the combination of fluid 90 and receiver body 10 material (or surface coating on the capillary channel wall 20) is most germane to system function for determination of the magnitude of the capillary fluid-wicking effect. The capillary wicking effect ensures that fluid in the pertinent phase is pumped to the vicinity of the heat transfer interface. Therefore, combinations of fluid and receiver material (or surface coating) are selected to ensure the presence of a liquid-wet configuration. In some applications and configuration adaptations primarily associated with the fluid condenser function, optimal performance may dictate the selection of a fluid and receiver material combination that ensures a gas-wet configuration. The working fluid may be a single, pure component, or a multi-component mixture. Generally, where multi-component mixtures are utilized, only one component is volatile in the intended operation range while the remaining components are non-condensing (i.e., carrier fluids). The working fluid 90 components may include, but are not limited to, monatomic gas, polyatomic gas, water, organic fluids, polymers, paraffins, fluidized salts, and fluidized metals. The surface of the heat transfer interface 30 may be coated with a material to enhance heat transfer to the receiver unit 10 by direct contact or radiative fluence. Additionally, the walls of the capillary channels 20 in the receiver body 10 may incorporate materials coatings to enhance heat transfer with the fluid 90, increase system lifetime, control local fluid chemistry, control wall ablation, or to ensure wetting characteristics. Such coating materials may include, but are not limited to, metal oxides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, semiconductors, other ceramics, metals, metal alloys, polymers, organic compounds and cellulosic materials. Most of these coatings may be applied by sputtering or physical vapor deposition. Others coatings may be applied by weldment or chemical bonding. Receiver body 10 materials may include, but are not limited to, metal oxides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, semiconductors, other ceramics, metals, metal alloys, resins, fiber reinforced resins, polymers, organic compounds and cellulosic materials.

The system geometry and dimensions are adapted to the specific application and vary with the functional use. The exterior boundaries of the receiver module 10 of FIG. 1 fundamentally impose the volume that a single unit excludes. The receiver module geometry occupies a parallelepiped in the preferred embodiment. System component and feature dimensions are optimized for the specific application, creating few restrictions or generalities among adaptations. However, the forces for fluid wicking phenomena generally deteriorate significantly for capillary channel 20 radii exceeding 5 millimeters for the types of fluid-structure combinations relevant to the current invention. Therefore, the maximum capillary channel diameter does not exceed 1 centimeter. There are no inherent restrictions on the axial length of the capillary channel 20, though structural considerations, the possibility of extensive liquid dryout for heating, and of unacceptable overall system pressure or temperature differences all prefer that this dimension be less than 1 meter. The receiver body has total length that is longer in the direction of the capillary channel axis by a dimension equivalent to the sum of the plena 60, 70 depths and the plena wall thicknesses. The receiver body width in the first direction transverse to the capillary channel axis exceeds the capillary channel diameter by a modest magnitude (i.e., wall thickness) sufficient to ensure structural integrity and to minimize the lengths of any micro-port 80 channels. For structural reasons, this wall thickness could vary with the specified length of the receiver body 10 along the axis of the capillary channels 20. The receiver body width in the second direction mutually orthogonal to both the capillary channel axis and the first direction transverse to the capillary channel axis is not inherently constrained, but must be sufficient to accommodate the number of capillary channels and the inter-channel spacing specified for a single unit in a given application. The receiver body can be formed by billet milling or investment casting for metal and metal alloy materials, by transfer molding for polymer materials, by fusion casting or sintering for ceramics, and Verneuil or flame fusion methods for semiconductors and some ceramics. All of the body materials can be shaped as necessary after forming by mechanical milling, mechanical cutting, abrasive fluid jet cutting or laser cutting.

In adaptations with active micro-ports, the micro-port location(s) along the capillary channel axis are variable and are specified to satisfy system performance metrics. Active micro-port diameters are also specified to satisfy system performance metrics, but are generally smaller than the associated capillary channel diameter by an approximate order-of-magnitude. The active micro-port conduit axis is orthogonal to the axis of the capillary channel that it intersects. Material coatings for the micro-port walls may differ from the coatings on the associated capillary channel walls in a single specific application mode.

Capillary channel 20 diameter is selected to provide a hydraulic permeability in the range of 1 square-nanometer (1 micro-Darcy) to 10 one-millionth square-meter (10 million Darcy). Crudely, these hydraulic permeability values correspond to a range of capillary channel diameters ranging from 0.5 micrometer to 1 centimeter. Capillary channel diameters may be smaller by an approximate order of magnitude in collimation and Fraunhofer diffraction application modes. Generally, capillary channel 20 diameters may vary (i.e., may be poly-disperse) within a single receiver body unit 10 of FIG. 1, to produce multiple effects or functional adaptations within a single unit, to allow performance optimization over a range of operating conditions, or to satisfy structural and mechanical constraints. In the preferred embodiment, capillary channel diameters are uniform, both along the capillary channel axis and among different channels, within a single receiver body unit. The capillary channels and micro-ports can be introduced as features integral to the cast or mold during the receiver body forming process in many cases. Otherwise, the capillary channels and micro-ports can be introduced by mechanical press cutting, abrasive fluid jet cutting, or laser cutting for channel sizes at the lower end of the stated diameter range.

The present invention differs from a conventional heat pipe in that it is not a closed fluid circuit, there is no dedicated condenser section of the apparatus (e.g., a condenser disposed at an axial end of a capillary tube), and the working fluid 90 of FIG. 1 is also the local heat sink (or heat supply when operated as a condenser). Excluding fluid motion, the present invention requires no internal mechanical moving parts. Operation of the present invention to process fluid requires no dedicated pump component, instead relying on the inter-plenum fluid pressure differential and capillary wicking or pumping for fluid delivery. The absence of process components other than a heat supply reduces system complexity, and facilities an ability to scale system size over four orders of magnitude. The system is not designed to perform filtration or ultra-filtration, both bringing accumulated effects that tend to diminish system performance. Therefore, the present invention differs from filtration, ultra-filtration and osmotic devices in this functional capability. A feature differentiating the present invention from most other collimators and diffraction devices is the presence of a volatile fluid in the apparent collimation channels and diffraction-slits. Excluding the intended miniature size for the present invention, major advantages for the present invention as compared with conventional boilers, pressure generators, humidifies, and heat exchangers are the versatility of apparent control schemes, the reduced system complexity, the greater system compactness, the ability to situate the present invention in proximity to the heat source, and the adaptability of the present invention to many different types of heat source. 

1. A method for heat exchange with a fluid, said fluid including a volatile fluid component, in a capillary channel network disposed in a miniature device.
 2. A method for heat exchange with a fluid, said fluid including a volatile fluid component, in a capillary network disposed in a miniature device according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: a. heat exchange with a structural component of a miniature device; b. subsequent heat exchange between the structure of the miniature device and fluid resident in capillary channel cavities disposed in the miniature device; c. perturbation to the thermodynamic and kinetic states of a volatile component of the fluid resulting from heat exchange between the structure of the miniature device and fluid resident in capillary channel cavities disposed in the miniature device; d. perturbation to the surface tension, static pressure, saturation level and absolute humidity level characteristics of the fluid resulting from heat exchange between the structure of the miniature device and fluid resident in capillary channel cavities disposed in the miniature device; e. a means for directly accessing or drawing the fluid at locations within the miniature device where the surface tension; static pressure, saturation level and absolute humidity level characteristics of the fluid are perturbed by heat exchange between the structure of the miniature device and fluid resident in capillary channel cavities disposed in the miniature device.
 3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the heat exchange process regulates the fluid pressure at specific locations throughout the miniature device.
 4. A method as in claim 2, wherein the heat exchange process regulates the fluid saturation level at specific locations throughout the miniature device.
 5. A method as in claim 2, wherein the heat exchange process regulates the absolute humidity level of a volatile component in the gaseous phase of the fluid at specific locations throughout the miniature device.
 6. A method as in claim 2 that constitutes the operational principal for a single-stream heat exchanger.
 7. A method as in claim 2 that constitutes the operational principal for a fluid evaporator.
 8. A method as in claim 2 that constitutes the operational principal for a fluid condenser.
 9. A method as in claim 2 that constitutes the operational principal for a humidifier.
 10. A method as in claim 2 that constitutes the operational principal for a pressure generator.
 11. A method as in claim 2 that constitutes the operational principal for a thrust motor.
 12. A method as in claim 2 that constitutes the operational principal for a Fraunhofer diffraction device for electro-magnetic or particle beam emissions.
 13. A method as in claim 2 that constitutes the operational principal for a collimation device for electro-magnetic or particle beam emissions.
 14. An apparatus for heat exchange with a fluid, said fluid including a volatile fluid component, in a capillary channel network disposed in a miniature device.
 15. An apparatus for heat exchange with a fluid, said fluid including a volatile fluid component, in a capillary network disposed in a miniature device according to claim 14, with said apparatus comprising: a. a receiver body module that provides structural integrity; b. a receiver body module that incorporates a heat transfer interface disposed at a receiver body external surface or surfaces; c. a receiver body module that incorporates passages for fluid flow disposed internally; d. a pair manifolds that function as fluid plena and that are individually disposed at opposite ends of the receiver body module; e. a pair manifolds that function as fluid plena and that are directly connected by a common system of intervening channels for fluid flow; f. a network of parallel capillary channels of circular cross-section that traverse the receiver body module and that facilitate the direct flow of fluid between opposing plena at the terminal ends of the receiver body module; g. a system of secondary micro-port conduits of circular cross-section for fluid flow, with each conduit terminating at the capillary channel and receiver body surface respectively to enable access to fluid in the capillary channel at designated locations along the capillary channel axis.
 16. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the capillary channel diameter nowhere exceeds 1 centimeter.
 17. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the capillary channel diameter is axially non-uniform.
 18. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the capillary channel diameter is axially uniform.
 19. An apparatus as in claim 15, where conduit diameters vary among different capillary channels disposed within a single receiver block unit.
 20. An apparatus as in claim 15, where conduit diameters are uniform among different capillary channels disposed within a single receiver block unit.
 21. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the micro-port conduit diameter is equal to or less than the intersected capillary channel conduit diameter.
 22. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the fluid composition includes a condensed monatomic gas constituent.
 23. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the fluid composition includes a vaporized monatomic gas constituent.
 24. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the fluid composition includes a condensed polyatomic gas constituent.
 25. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the fluid composition includes a vaporized polyatomic gas constituent.
 26. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the fluid composition includes a water constituent.
 27. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the fluid composition includes an organic fluid constituent.
 28. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the fluid composition includes a polymer constituent.
 29. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the fluid composition includes a paraffin constituent.
 30. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the fluid composition includes a fluidized salt constituent.
 31. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the fluid composition includes a fluidized metal constituent.
 32. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes a metal oxide constituent material.
 33. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes a metal carbide constituent material.
 34. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes a metal nitride constituent material.
 35. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes a semiconductor constituent material.
 36. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes a ceramic constituent material.
 37. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes a metal constituent material.
 38. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes a metal alloy constituent material.
 39. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes a resin constituent material.
 40. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes a fiber reinforcement constituent material.
 41. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes a polymer constituent material.
 42. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes an organic compound constituent material.
 43. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the receiver body composition includes a cellulosic constituent material.
 44. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a metal oxide constituent material.
 45. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a metal carbide constituent material.
 46. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a metal nitride constituent material.
 47. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a semiconductor constituent material.
 48. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a ceramic constituent material.
 49. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a metal constituent material.
 50. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a metal alloy constituent material.
 51. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a resin constituent material.
 52. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a polymer constituent material.
 53. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes an organic compound constituent material.
 54. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a cellulosic constituent material.
 55. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes metal oxide constituents.
 56. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes metal carbide constituents.
 57. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes metal nitride constituents.
 58. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes semiconductor constituents.
 59. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes ceramic constituents.
 60. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes metal constituents.
 61. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes metal alloy constituents.
 62. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes polymer constituents.
 63. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the channel and capillary wall material coating composition includes organic compound constituents.
 64. An apparatus as in claim 15, where the capillary channel wall material coating composition includes cellulosic material constituents.
 65. An apparatus as in claim 15 that functions as a single-stream heat exchanger.
 66. An apparatus as in claim 15 that functions as a fluid evaporator.
 67. An apparatus as in claim 15 that functions as a fluid condenser.
 68. An apparatus as in claim 15 that functions as a humidifier.
 69. An apparatus as in claim 15 that functions as a pressure generator.
 70. An apparatus as in claim 15 that functions as a thrust motor.
 71. An apparatus as in claim 15 that functions as a Fraunhofer diffraction device for electro-magnetic or particle beam emissions.
 72. An apparatus as in claim 15 that functions as a collimation device for electro-magnetic or particle beam emissions.
 73. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the capillary channel conduits are plugged, capped, or do not fully penetrate to the receiver body exterior at both ends.
 74. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the micro-port conduits are omitted, plugged, capped, or do not fully penetrate to the receiver body exterior.
 75. An apparatus as in claim 15, that operates in a steady-state mode.
 76. An apparatus as in claim 15, that operates in a transient mode. 